The job market is changing. It's no longer enough to have a great resume, or even a good one. Instead, it's important that you keep your resume updated as changes in the world of work happen. If you're like me and have decided to stay at home with your kids while they're young, here are some tips for keeping your professional life fresh so that when you do decide to go back into the workforce, it will be easy for recruiters to see what makes you stand out from other candidates:
Resume isn't a simple listing of your skills and experience
A resume isn't just a list of your skills and experience. It's actually more like a marketing document. The goal is to present yourself as the best candidate for an open position, not just someone who happens to be looking for work.
To do this, you need to know your audience. If you're applying for a job at the local ice cream parlor and all you can think about is how much fun it will be serving cones instead of doing whatever it is that you do now, then that's great—but make sure it shows on your resume! You'll want to focus on how much time you've spent scooping ice cream in previous jobs or any other relevant experience (like if your last employer was an ice cream parlor).
The same goes if you're applying for a sales job at a technology company: one way of showing off that skill set might be including specific companies where they have sold similar products before—and then stating clearly what role they played in those deals! Make sure any skills or experience that aren't relevant don't make their way into the final draft; just focus on what makes sense here specifically regarding this company/position combo.
Your resume mirrors the way you perform in the field you're applying for
When it comes to resumes, there's no such thing as being too updated. It is absolutely crucial that you keep your resume up-to-date and current. Your resume must be able to reflect the way you perform in the field you're applying for, so it can't be stale—no matter what kind of job search you're in right now.
If you're a stay at home mom (or dad), then updating your resume every year should be easy enough since this is how often most companies expect their candidates' materials to be updated. If on the other hand if you were working full time but have decided to switch gears and become a SAHM at this point in time, then updating your resume every month would probably be more appropriate for your situation; even if not monthly, try aiming for an update every three months or so!
Link your strengths to your targeted industry
As a stay at home mom, you have a unique advantage: flexibility. You can work when it fits into your family's schedule and not have to be tied down by an office job with rigid hours.
So, whether you're looking for part-time work or just want to get back into the workforce after taking some time off, there are many options available for you. You may even find that being a stay at home mom has helped you hone some skills that would make applying for jobs or internships easier than they were before!
The first thing is to identify what your strengths are. Think about what skills and abilities make up who you are as an individual and how those could apply in an occupation (or even multiple ones). Then, look at what jobs fit those skills and see if any of them interest you! If not, consider other industries where those same traits would be applicable.
Think about the long-term goals you have
It's important to consider what your long-term goals are and how your resume can help you get there. In short, this means thinking about what skills and experience you want to have when you go back to work full-time. If the answer is "I want a job in digital marketing," then maybe it's time for an update.
You'll also want to take into account whether or not any of your past roles were related to this goal, even if they weren't directly related. For example, if someone has been working as a social media expert for years and now wants a new role that involves more direct management of employees or some other aspect of leadership, their current skills will still be useful in those areas—and could even help them land the job they're looking for!
Create an accurate, concise resume in Word.
Use a professional font like Times New Roman, Arial or Garamond.
Use a font size of 11-12 points.
Use a simple layout with a header, contact information and experience summary.
Use bullet points to highlight your experience
Think about how you'd describe yourself to someone who didn't know anything about what you do or what jobs are hiring
If you're a stay-at-home mom, you have probably spent a lot of time thinking about how to describe yourself on your resume. This is especially important if you are looking for work and are trying to reenter the workforce after taking some time off.
Remember that the written word can be powerful and it's very easy to come across as being arrogant or aggressive in what you write. So, when writing your resume keep these tips in mind:
Describe your skills, experience and education as they relate specifically to what this job will entail (ie., if the job calls for manual labor then make sure you list all those hard-earned muscles).
List any volunteer work that helps demonstrate how much of an asset you would be at this company (ie., if they do charity fundraisers then having volunteered with their organization shows them how committed you are). Mentioning where/when/how often may also prove helpful if someone from the company recognizes your name from past involvement with their cause).
Explain why exactly YOU are right person for this position (ie., explain any transferable skills). You should also make sure that everything on there reflects what is listed on LinkedIn!
A well-written resume can get you an interview
You may be wondering what a resume can do for you as a stay-at-home mom. Well, one of the biggest benefits is that it can get you an interview. You might not think that having a resume will help your job search as much as other things like social media or networking, but in reality, it’s important to have all of these things in order to get the best results.
Your resume is the first thing a potential employer sees when they look at your application package and determines whether or not they want to learn more about you. If your résumé doesn’t stand out from all of the other applicants with similar experience, then chances are good that yours won’t make it past their initial screening process either! So how do we make sure our resume stands out?
The job market is competitive, and it's important to have a resume that stands out. Make sure you have a professional-looking resume that highlights your skills and experience in the industry of your choice. You'll also need to update it regularly so employers know they're hiring someone who will stay on top of trends in their field.
If you're ready to put your resume to the test and apply to legit work from home jobs, check out the latest legit remote jobs from Legit Mom Jobs here.
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